HOW CAN YOU LOSE A OSCAR IF YOU CAN'T WIN?

Beyonce Knowles won't be one of the nominees. That's because the Academy limits the number of credited songwriters to three per song. And in the credit roll on "Listen," Knowles is fourth, leaving her the odd composer out.

"It's no surprise," Knowles spokesman Alan Nierob said Thursday. "It's all good. The rules are the rules."

According to Academy spokeswoman Teni Melidonian, the limit on Original Song personnel was enforced starting with films released in 2005. The move was done, the rep said Thursday, to ensure that songwriters and composers who make the greatest contribution receive the greatest amount of Oscar credit.

And on "Listen," it was determined, Knowles' collaborators made greater contributions than Knowles. Which is not the same as saying Knowles didn't contribute. She did, Nierob said. And not only that, she sounds ready to contribute more.

"If the song's fortunate enough to be nominated, if they are kind enough to invite her to perform (at the show), no one else is going to perform it, I hope," Nierob said.